Doom

Doom, the legendary video game that introduced the concept of "first-person shooter" to the industry and went on to spawn many sequels and imitators has now morphed into an ultra-violent sci-fi movie. Although it's not an embarrassment, it's not nearly as much fun as going after those imps, zombies, and Hell Knights yourself. The Rock stars as anti-hero Sarge, commander of the Rapid Response Tactical Squad, a group of Marine mercenaries who are dispatched to a remote corner of Mars. They discover someone—or something—is lunching on the few remaining workers in a research station and jump into action: "Let's see if we can find a body to go with that arm!" Equipped with weaponry that would make Saddam Hussein drool with envy, it's a battle royal between the demonic creatures lurking behind every corner and the RRTS. Every cliché is rolled out in the less-than-subtle script. "Look alive men. The game has begun," barks Sarge early on. "It's big…very big," "Damn it's fast," and "If you hesitate, people die" are just a few of the memorable lines these guys must deliver with a straight face. Our personal favorite is Sarge's two-word reaction upon first seeing the lovingly photographed BFG, or "Big Force Gun" suspended in mid-air: "Holy shit!" Our thoughts exactly. From Lara Croft to Mortal Kombat, video games have been an irresistible and obvious lure for moviemakers, but a genuine masterpiece in the genre still eludes. That won't stop legions of Doom fans from flocking to this imitator on opening weekend, but it's a mere shadow of the real deal, so don't expect any sequels. For this potential film series, we're afraid it's "game over."